UPDATE: I usually tend to ignore editorials by the right-wingnut “Republican Times-Disgrace”, but this one’s a good one.

Cuccinelli’s reply so far has consisted of a two-word riposte from his political director: “Sore loser.” But calling Shannon names hardly qualifies as a sufficient, or even a serious, response. The attorney general owes Virginians a fuller explanation as to why he would want his name connected in any way with the stench emanating from the dubious group. For instance, suppose inquiries determine that U.S. Navy Veterans is a charity in name only, and the principal beneficiary turns out to be Thompson. That might not break any state laws. But it would reflect poorly on Cuccinelli to keep money that donors had intended help veterans rather than Thompson himself.

Last month a spokesman for Cuccinelli told The Times-Dispatch that “it would be atypical for the attorney general’s office to initiate an investigation into a nonprofit.” Yes. But it also is atypical for the AG’s office to initiate a fraud investigation into a professor’s research. The oddness has not stopped Cuccinelli from investigating former UVa climatologist Michael Mann. Nor has atypicality stopped Cuccinelli from announcing the formation of the Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force, an “unprecedented partnership” among federal and state civil regulators and criminal investigators, including the AG’s office, that is “committed to conducting parallel investigations.” Yet so far the attorney general’s office has not issued even a consumer alert about U.S. Navy Veterans. What’s stopping him?